If you haven’t figured it out by now, I am a big music fan. One of my favorite gospel songs is, “I Need You to Survive,” by Hezekiah Walker. The first time I heard the words to this song, they pierced my soul.

I pray for you
You pray for me
I love you
I need you to survive
I won’t harm you
With words from my mouth
I love you
I need you to survive

Hezekiah Walker

Wow!

“I pray for you. You pray for me. I love you. I need you to survive.” What remarkable words. If you evaluate the words of the song, it suggests that we need each other’s prayers to survive. I once heard a pastor preach that we should always have someone in our corner to pray for us, because there might come a time when we cannot pray for ourselves. There will be a time when we are so weighed down by life that we just cannot find the words in our hearts to pray. It’s in those moments where we need prayer the most.

Times of adversity are not the only times we need others to pray for us. As Christ followers, we are called to pray for each other all the time. We are called to pray when times are good, bad and neutral. Sometimes it’s hard to pray for others because we are so focused on self-what wewant and when we want it. Even when we do pray for others, it usually tends to be a drive-by prayer: “Thank you God for ‘so-and-so.’ God bless them. Amen.” How often do we pray an intercessory prayer for others—a deep soul/gut-wrenching prayer—one we would pray for ourselves? When was the last time we fasted solely for someone else and not simply as an add-on to our prayer requests?

I pray for you. You pray for me. I love you. I need you to survive.”

In order to survive, we do need the prayers of others. I know with EVERYTHING that I know that I know that I know, where I am is a product of many prayers from many different people. I could not have survived without prayer—prayers of blessing, prayers of protection, prayers of provision. As a result of the many known and unknown prayers that have been said on my behalf, I also pray earnestly for the people I love, and in some cases, people I don’t care too much for. I don’t do this because I am some great person. I do this because this is what God expects of me. The Bible says to whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48). We should pray for each other.

Our prayers should speak blessings into our loved ones lives. Sometimes our prayers might even require that we put aside our selfish inclinations for the betterment of our partners. On occasions, we should even try to pray for the needs of others before we pray for our own needs. Imagine how much that could spice up a marriage. There is nothing sexier than selflessness.

Lord, Create in us a generous heart—one that has compassion for others. Give us the desire to pray for others more than we pray for ourselves. In Jesus’ name. Amen!!